Five leading Galway-based companies scooped awards at the Connacht provincial final of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards. Three other businesses from across Connacht were also selected as winners at the awards ceremony, which took place at The Clayton Hotel.
Mixgreens, an eco-friendly fast-food franchise committed to impressively-presented healthy -eating creations and excellent customer service was awarded the ‘Best Business Start-Up Award’. Channel Mechanics, a company that produces software and services solutions that enable manufacturers increase the size and speed of their revenues by effectively using their distributors and channels as they go to market, won the ‘Innovation and Emerging Technology Award’.
The ‘Food and Drink Award’ went to The Foods of Athenry, a family-owned, farm-based bakery that bakes additive-free premium products that are sold nationwide in major retailers, fine food stores and health food shops. Lifes2good, a rapidly expanding health and beauty business which markets and distributes exclusive and clinically-proven brands across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia won the ‘International Business Award’.
The Agri-Business Award went to GH Agri - Galway Homeopathics which is a family-run business that works with up to 10,000 farmers in Ireland to alleviate on-farm and animal health issues.
This year, the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards received a record number of entries, totaling almost 600, from across the island of Ireland. 66 entries were submitted from Connacht companies.
Companies were rigorously judged on a variety of merits including financial performance, company milestones and achievements, future strategy and development of innovative products and services. The Connacht judging panel was made up of Brendan McDermott, Regional Director, Ulster Bank; Barry Egan, Regional Director, Enterprise Ireland; Grainne Lennon, Operations Manager, Intertrade Ireland and Sean Keenan, CEO of Multis Group. The winning Connacht businesses, in each of the eight categories, were selected from a shortlist of three companies.
Speaking at the Connacht provincial awards, Brendan McDermott, Ulster Bank Regional Director, said: “The record number of entries submitted to this year’s awards shows a real turning point in the Irish business community. Of the total number of entries received, 33 per cent were in our Best Business Start-Up category. Our new Woman Led Business category also received 31 per cent of the total entries. SMEs and entrepreneurs are the backbone of the Irish economy. They support local commerce and drive direct and indirect employment. We are delighted to see so many great businesses standing up to be recognised and I wish each of our Connacht winners the best of luck at our national final in May.”
The 2012 Ulster Bank Business Achiever will receive a comprehensive prize package including a €50,000 publishing bursary with the Irish Independent, business mentoring from Enterprise Ireland, a full service communications workshop, as well as much positive national and regional PR coverage.
For further information on the 2012 Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards and the provincial winners, go to www.businessachieversaward.com
